MARK WATSON: Before It Overtakes Us

5 stars ~

Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh Fringe ~

Mark Watson has been a formidable staple of the Edinburgh Fringe for two decades, still happily performing at his longtime favourite venue: Pleasance Courtyard, but now in Pleasance One, the original theatre.  And once again the audience are in for a treat, as true to form he begins not onstage but with a genial wander through the theatre, chatting in the amiably flustered way that has become his trademark.

This year’s show is a glorious meander, in classic Watson style, through odd obsessions and everyday fears. He digs deep into the UK sausage industry with the verve of a man enthused to be involved in a national scandal, then swerves into tales of his fear of flying despite meticulous attention to safety demos, recalling a thunderstorm flight with an emergency landing - in equal parts frazzled, self-mocking and absurd.

From there Mark switches to the relatable frustrations of Chatbot customer service, the peculiarities of some WhatsApp messaging, and even an AI-generated description of his stage persona that brought the most appreciative laugh of the evening.

Mark's delivery is as captivating as ever and there is some easygoing audience chat, a callback or two, some playful detours, and the sense that he too is unravelling the show's content alongside you.  As always, Watson’s combination of intellect, silliness, and genuine warmth makes for an hour that feels personal, delightful and entirely worth not only the ticket price but also braving the August crowds.

Reviewed by RoxyReviews for One4Review on 14 August 2025